Golf bag



United States Patent [72] Inventor AlbertG-May Referencescned Berwlck, Pennsylvania UNITED STATES PATENTS pp 774,013 501,821 7/l893 Browne 224/44 1 Filed luv-7,1963 1,636,194 7/1927 Mullins..... ...l50/l.5(A)UX. 1 Patented Sept-29,197" |,637,538 8/1927 Sampson.. ...l50/l.S(A)UX 1 Assign "Ydireclandmesneasslgnmentsfi 2,316,716 4/1943 RieS 190/52ux MaycmQorpmfim 3,404,8l8 [/1968 MlSCOe 220/6X a corporation ofPennsylvanla FOREIGN PATENTS 7 400,350 10/1933 GreatBritain ..150/1.5(c ux 486,83l 6/1938 Great Britain l/l.5(A)UX [54] GOLF BAG 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl ISO/1.5 A63b /00 [50] Field ol'Search /].5A,

1,58, l.5C; 220/234; /52; 224/43,44; ISO/28.1

Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Attorney-John l. lverson ABSTRACT: A golf bag having a pair of similar substantially rigid club and equipment storage compartments. The compartments are reversible to adapt the bag for either traveling or play. The compartments are also separable from each other to provide a pair of lightweight half-size" bags each complete with its own club and equipment storage areas.

' Patented Sept. 29, 1970 Sheet 1 of2 I YINVENTOR A/[xrf 6M0} Patented Sept. 29, 1970 3,530,919

Sheet 2 012 INVENTOR A/be-rf 6. May

This invention relates to golf bags.

The usual g'olfbag is'asimple fabric or leather bagwith carrying strap, closed-at thebottoni and open at the top from which the headsof'the clubs protrude. The usual golfbag does not provide muehin'tlie way of protection-tothe clubs, especially when the clubs are'being transported" to and from the golf course. At such times, especially when traveling by commercial conveyances'suclias airplanes, the clubs and bagitself are often damaged.

The ordinary fabric orleather golf bag is bulky, heavy and wasteful of space. Since many golfers like to take their clubs with them while traveling, theweight and-bulk of theconventional golf bag is a handicap.

In addition-,- the usual fabric or leather golf bag is often damaged or wears prematurely when used with the golf carts in common use at many golf courses.

Finally, there are oftenoccasions' when a player would like to use a partial set of clubs and a corresponding-lightweight bag or occasions when the player may wish to share his full set of clubs with another player.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a golf bag offering complete protection to a set of golf clubs both on and off the golf course.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a compact,

lightweight luggage type golf bag especially suited for travelmg.

It is a stillfurther object of this invention to provide a golf bag suitable for use on golf carts.

' It is a still further object of this invention to provide a golf bag adaptable for use with less than a full set of clubs or use by more than one player.-

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings and claims.

It has been discovered that the foregoing objects can be obtained by a golf bag comprised of a pair of substantially rigid box-like compartments each closed at one end and partially open at the other end which are joined along one edge of each compartment by a separable hinged element.

,- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 'I is an isometric view of a golf bag of this invention in a closed position for transporting a set of golf clubs to and from a golf course.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a golf bag of this invention 'in an open playing position for carrying a set of golf clubs while on a golf course.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a golf bag of this invention in a partially opened position to reveal certain details.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines M in FIG. 1 showing the removable club head hood.

DESCRIPTION'OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the FlGS.,"golf bag I is comprised of a pair of substantially identical rectangular box-like compartments 2 and 3 each closed atthebottom and partially open 'at'the top. The walls 4 of the compartments 2 and 3 are made of a substantially rigid but lightweight'ma'terial such as molded plastic, fiberglass, aluminum or the like. The corners ofthe box-like compartments 2 and-3 are preferably rounded.

Asshown inFlGS. 2 and3, one face 5 of each compartment is formed of a flexiblematerial such asleather or fabric and is provided with a series of closable openings which can be opeiied with slide fasteners 6 to expose pockets 7, 8and 9 built within a portion of the compartments 2 and 3. The pockets may 'be of any shape or size desired. For the purpose of illustration. pocket 7 is a long narrow pocket suitable for containing an umbrellaor'the like, whilepockets Sand 9 are more suitable foritems of clothingor golfingequipment suchas balls, tees; etc.

As best'shown in'FIG. 3; box-like compartments 2 and:3;areprovided with apreformed insert:element.9a;having a series of{ individual cylindrical. club-retaining openingsor' recesses, 10'

formed therein. The insert element9a occupies approximately half of the depth of each compartment,2"and 3 leaving therest of the space in each compartmentavailable for clothing and,

equipment-storage in pockets 7, 8and9;

The golf bag 1 of this invention i'sshown in FIG. l.-in a closedposition suitable for transporting a:full allowable set. of golf clubs and all the required clothingand auxiliary. equipment to and fromthe golf course and on trips. The bag 1 in. this closed'positionshown in FIG. 1-. resembles regular travel luggage and preferably. would be: made in colorsand shapesv similar to that of existing linesof travelluggage. In the closed position-illustrated in FIG; 1 the box-like compartments 2 and 3 are placed with the pocketcontaining-faces 5 opposing each other and are joined together along the abutting edges by a continuous slide fastener 11 or the like.

A substantially rigid hood member 12 is attached tov theopen ends of compartmentsZ and 3- by another slide fastener I3 or'other suitablefastening means. A locking device 14 may be used to retain slide fasteners 11 and 13 in a closedposition and prevent unauthorized opening of golf bag 1. Compartments 2 aiid'3 are. each provided with a carrying handle 15 to permit easy carrying of bag I while in the closed traveling position shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the golf clubs and all the accessories are not only totally enclosed but are also fully protected by the strong rigid walls 4 of the compartments 2 and 3 and hood l2.

' At the golf course when ready for play, slide fasteners 11 and I3 are unlocked and opened thereby permitting hood 12 to be removed and box-like compartments 2 and 3 to be opened up about hinged element I6 as shown in FIG. 3 and reversed to the positions shown in FIG. 2. Slide fastener 11 is then refastened to hold the compartments 2 and 3 in this reversed open position. While in this position the faces 5 containing the opening to pockets 7, 8 and 9 are exposed permitting easy access to the clothing and equipment stored therein. The clubs, positioned-in their individual recesses 10 are readily available for play. A separable carrying strap 17 is attached to the bag for ease in carrying the bag.

The rigid rectangular shape of the bag 1 makes it especially suitable for use with manual or powered golf carts. The shape and rigidity of the bag will permit easier attachment to the cart without fear of damage to the bag or its contents.

Hinge element 16 is separable or otherwise detachable from compartments 2 and 3 to permit the compartments 2 and 3 to be completely separated from each other whenever slide fastener]! is open, such as shown in FIG. 3. Compartments 2 and 3 thus can each be made available as an entirely lightweight "half-size" bag each having its own club and equipment carrying areas. Carrying strap 17 is separable by'a slide fastener 18 into two halves with each half serving as the carrying strap for one of the'compartments 2 or 3.

With the bag ofthis invention a player desiring to, can use less than the full allowable set of clubs without using a heavy bulky bag. Similarly the bag of this invention permits a player to divide his clubs and bag with another player if desired.

The substantially rigid hood 12 shown in FIG. 4'not only serves to protect the club heads when the bag I is in the-closed position but,because-of its rigidity, can serve as a carrier for golf shoes and contains a tree 19 to retain the pair of .golf shoes 20.

With the bag of this invention the majority of the space within'the bag is usable storage space. The'bag is streamlined, compact and lightweight and entirely versatile.

I claim:

1. A golf bag comprising a pair of substantially rigid-tbox-like compartments each closed at one end and partially openatthe other end and joined along one edge of each compartment by a separable hinged element, one face of each compartment being provided with closable apertures exposing pockets within said box-like compartments.

2. A golf bag comprising a pair of substantially rigid box-like compartments each closed at one end and partially open at the other end and joined along one edge of each compartment by a separable hinged element, the opposed edges of said compartments being joined by a continuous slide fastener.

3. A golf bag comprising a pair of substantially rigid box-like compartments each closed at one end and partially open at the other end and joined along one edge of each compartment by a separable hinged element the partially open ends of said compartments being covered by a substantially rigid hood, said hood having means to retain a pair of shoes within said hood. 

